Stock-ringer.



" Patented Apr. s, eoz.

A. J. SPENCER. STOGK BINGEIL (Application filed my 17, 1901.)

( llo Model.)

N\ N mW UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ANDREW J SPENCER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

STOCK-RINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patents No. e97,559, dated April15, 1902.

Application filed May 17,1901.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. SPENCER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson, in the State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStock-Ringers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements'in stock-ringers of that classintended to be used for placing a ring in a hogs nose to prevent rootingand which may also be used to place the tags in the ears of cattle orthe like; and my invention consists in certain features of noveltyhereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved stock-ringer withthe jaws open, one side of the handle or stock being removed. Fig. 2represents a like View showing the jaws partly closed to receive andhold the ring preparatory to placing it in a hogs nose. Fig. 3represents a like View showing the jaws closed to close the ring. Figo 4represents a detail View of one of the jaws, showing groove therein forholding the rings.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 represents a stock or handle upon which is provided a curved jaw 2,adapted to receive and hold one part of an open hog-ring of usual andfamiliar form and not shown. Upon the head 3 of the stock, upon which iscarried the jaw 2, is pivotally nounted an opposing jaw 4, the open ringbeing held' between the two jaws, and upon said jaw 4 is provided a lug5, provided with an indented catch 6 and a projection 7 in advance ofsaid catch. The stock 1 is hollow throughout and'is provided with ahollow butt 8. In a recess 9 in said butt of the stock is mounted aspring 10. A latch 11 engages the free end of said spring and eXtendinglongitndinally through the stock :is adapted to engage the catch 6 onthe lug 5 of said pivoted jaw 4 when the latch is drawn forward againstthe tension .of said spring. In the latch-bar is provided a notch orstop 12, adapted to engage the forward end of a trigger 13 when thelatch is drawn for ward, and thus hold the spring under tension Serialm. 60,705. (No model.)

while the catchvof the jaw 4 is engaged with the latch. Said latch-baris also provided with a step 14, adapted to be engaged with some fixedand stationary object to drawthe latch forward against the tension ofsaid spring into eng-agenent with the trigger 13.

In using the device the step 14 is engaged with some fixed object andthe latch drawn forward until the stop 12 engages and sets the trigger,as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. As there shown, this movement does notquite bring the latch into engagenent with the catch on lug 5; but inthis position there is no danger of accidental discharge, and the ringmay with safety be placed between the jaws, and thejaw4beingpresseddownupon the ring the catch is brought into engagement with the latch,as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the ring securely held betweenthe jaws ready for operation. Then pulling on the trigger the forwardend is withdrawn from the notch or stop and the latch released, whenunder the action of the spring the jaw 4 will be driven forward towardthejaw 2, closing the ring. Said latch-bar is provided with an extension15, which -as the bar moves backward under the action of the spring isadapted to engage the projection 7 on thelug 5 at that point in themovement at which the jaw 4 has closed the ring to the required degreeand release the latch from the catch, as shown in Fig. 3, and with thefurther backward movement of the latch-bar the inclined faces' of theextension 15 and projection 7, acting upon each other, will throw thejaw4 back, opening the jaws and releasing the ring. This action of closingthe' ring and opening the jaws and releasing the ring therefrom is soquickly performed by the retractile action of the spring that it avoidsany danger that any jerk or movement of the animal will displace thering after being closed.

A groove 16 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and in detail in Fig. 4)may be provided in the jaws to retain the ring in the jaws and preventit slipping therefrom as the jaws are closed.

The device may be used with very great advantage in fastening the tagsin the cars of cattle to be thus tagged after inspection or whenotherwise necessary or desired. As usually practiced this isaccomplished with ICO very serious difficulty and danger, as the cattlemust be caught and held while the tag is fastened in the ear. Byfastening the ringer upon a pole 17 and leading a wire or string 18 fromthe trigger out upon the pole, whereby the latch may be released, theoperator is enabled to stand at a distance and with facility and withoutdanger place a tag in the ear of the wildest steer in the corral.

Having thus fully described my improvenents, what I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination substantially as (lescribed of oppositely-disposedpivotally-connected jaws, a stock upon which said jaws are mounted, aspring mounted in said stock, a latch connected with said spring, atrigger adapted to engage said latch to hold the spring under tension, astep on said latch for effecting the engagement of said latch with thetrigger, a lug upon one of said jaws provided with a catch adapted toengage said latch and a projection on said lug adapted to engage saidlatch and release the catch therefron, as the jaws are closed.

2. In a stock-ringer, the combination of a &97,559

stock,oppositely-disposed, pivotally-connected jaws nounted upon saidstock, a spring mounted in said stock, a. recessed latch connected Withsaid spring, a trigger mounted in said stock and arranged to engage saidrecess in said latch to hold said spring under tension, and a catch onone of said jaws arranged to be brought into engagement with said latchto set said jaw upon the ring after the spring is set; substantially asset forth.

3. .In a stock-ringer the combination of a stock, oppositely-disposed,pivotaily-connected jaws on said stock, a spring mounted in said stock,a latch connected with said spring and arranged to be engaged by one ofsaid jaws, a trigger mounted in said stock and arranged to engage saidlatch to hold the spring under tension, a pole upon which said stock ismounted, and a Wire extending along said pole and connected with saidtrigger for releasing the same from said latch; substantially as setforth.

ANDREW J. SPENCER. VVitnesses:

ARTHUR PENNELL, O. A. LUcAs.

